Ben&Ben’s new song “Doors” was released internationally over the weekend on YouTube Live and raised nearly Php 5 million for COVID-19 response.
The popular indie folk-pop Filipino band’s second online concert following its successful Facebook Live Concert Fundraiser was held last Saturday, April 18, 2020, in partnership with YouTube Live Event.
It was on March 25 when Ben&Ben first held a Facebook Live concert for the Puhon.ph efforts to support frontliners in the fight against the coronavirus disease, where they raised over 2.7 million pesos within an hour.
The National Geographic Ambassadors surprised their fans with the early release of their first international song “Doors” that premiered on YouTube on April 16, 2020, and quickly trended on Twitter as soon as it was released.
Ben&Ben on YouTube Live
Ben&Ben’s 1-hour YouTube Live Event launched “Doors”, the band’s first international song release that is mixed by Grammy Award-winning engineer Miles Walker (Beyonce, Usher, Coldplay, Rihanna) and mastered by Leon Zervos (P!nk, Maroon 5, Beastie Boys, Willy Nelson). The video can still be found on YouTube.
“Doors” is now part of Spotify’s New Music Friday playlists and Apple Music’s New Music Daily playlists in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Canada, Japan, and Turkey.
In the live stream, Ben&Ben’s 9 members led by twin brothers vocalists-guitarists Paolo Benjamin and Miguel Benjamin Guico again performed from their respective homes while under community quarantine. Their concert line up included their hit singles Fall, Ride Home, Araw-Araw, Maybe the night, Pagtingin, War, and their first international song, Doors. The featured tracks were from their certified Platinum and best-selling 2019 debut album, LIMASAWA STREET.
In between each song, the members spoke about frontliners.
“In behalf of the band, we want to honor you. Thank you and we will continue to support you through our prayers and our acts of love. Thank you guys so much. Thank you for being the soldier in this current war that we are in,” said Ben&Ben violinist, Keifer Cabugao.
“I know that we are struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis. Some people are struggling mentally. Some people are out of work because of the enhanced community quarantine and I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it is for all of our frontliner and for those infected by the virus. Despite all of this I pray that we still hold on because I know that eventually, it will all get better. We will get there,” said keyboardist Pat Lasaten.
The twins, Paolo and Miguel, said that they are happy that they were able to share with their fans and everyone watching them the message of hope in these trying times.
“The way to beat this challenge is to be together and to stay at home,” said Ben&Ben’s Miguel Guico.
Puhon.ph Fundraiser for COVID-19 Efforts
“Puhon.ph is a website that’s dedicated to help our frontliners and our heroes in this COVID-19 pandemic. In this website you can help out by donating and sponsoring PPEs, testing kits, and relief goods. You will be able to see it if you go to the website. Or you can also share your stories,” announced Miguel about the beneficiary of their concert launch.
The online concert has since raised Php 4,447,367.65 of its Php 5,000,000 fundraising goal that runs for 25 days.
Various options to donate with a minimum of Php500 benefit various COVID-19 response programs such as meals, complete sets of personal protective equipment, and temperature guns. The Puhon.ph efforts are also providing for testing kits relief goods for daily wage earners affected by the lockdown.
Puhon.ph efforts are in collaboration with TeaM Energy Foundation and Philam Foundation in the receiving and distributing of the funds as well as YSEALI (Young South East Asian Leaders’ Initiative), Limitless Lab, Asian Institute of Management Team Energy Center for Bridging Leadership and multiple sponsors.
Netizens were all praises for the group for using their celebrity status to help in efforts to fight the coronavirus disease.
“I’ll never get tired of saying how ben&ben always eases my mental health. Thank you, fam for showering us good music, for being an instrument that all will be alright in time, thank you initiating fundraisings, thank you for loving your fans, the BB’s as your own fam!! Puhon sa next gig naman ha!! See you. 💛💙 Thank you for not changing, watched you 3 times in a live show/gig and it feels always first time. To more music and international releases!! 🥂 labyu fam and congratulations!! Laban kontra covid19!! 💪 Ingat tayong lahat, 💕” Shang PB shared on YouTube live comments.
“God bless you guys! May the Lord continually bless you with more inspiring songs that touches the hearts of everyone. ❤❤❤,” said Athena Ibis on Facebook.
“YouTube is proud to collaborate with Sony to enable Ben&Ben’s live streaming event which aims to create a donation drive for COVID-19 response efforts.
“It is uplifting to see the power of music and Filipinos’ spirit of bayanihan coming together to lend a helping hand during this increasingly challenging time. We hope that Ben&Ben’s event does not just help raise funds but inspire Filipinos to get through difficult moments through music,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director, Google Philippines.
YOU CAN STILL SEND HELP to Ben&Ben’s COVID-19 Puhon.ph fundraiser here.
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